Athlete of the week

 The EHF EURO 2022 has drawn to a close on Sunday. For the Romanian fans of women's handball, it has been another dismal reason for a disappointment. Our national squad came in 12th according to the final rankings. Notwithstanding, our lineup's run was definitely above par and the team measured up to the performance of Europe's top teams. The fixture against Montenegro was the cliffhanger, since Romania was defeated by the narrowest of margins, 34-35, with the refereeing being hostile to the Romanians. Had they won, Florentin Pera' s trainees could have retained their chances to advance to the semifinals. Romania had top-notch handballers in the lineup and showed a remarkable resolve to push themselves forward in the competition. Cristina Neagu and Eliza Buceschi literally shone on the court, while the Ukrainian-born goal keeper Yulia Dumanska was in top shape. The Romanian lineup could therefore have claimed a medal quite all right.

Sports pundits and the fans have spoken highly of the Romanian team's run. Inside-left Cristina Neagu has been included in the competition's All-star team. We recall Neagu had previously won the title, in 2010, 2012 and 2014. At the EHF EURO 2022, Cristina Neagu scored 39 goals, reaching 303 all told, scored in the past editions of European championships. It is an all-time record, and a nec plus ultra as compared to Icelandic handball player Gudjón Valur Sigurdsson's record, made of 288 goals scored in the European Championships he took part in.

Reason enough for Radio Romania International to designate Cristina Neagu the Athlete of the week.

Cristina Neagu was born in Bucharest on August 26, 1988. She made her debut with the School Sports Club number 5. In 2006 Cristian turned pro, playing for Rulmentul Brașov, then being signed up by Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea. In 2010, with Oltchim, Cristina Neagu reached as far as the Champions League finals. When Oltchim was disbanded, Neagu played for Buducnost Podgorica, a team with which she won the Champions League in 2015. She has been playing for CSM Bucharest since 2017. In 2010, 2015, 2016 and 2018, the IHF designated Neagu the world's best handballer. Cristina thus became the world's only handballer with four world-level titles on the record. (EN)